Watch Next

A city council inquiry has been launched to deal with the menace of motorists parking on grass verges and churning up the ground.

Councillors have noticed a steady increase in complaints about the abuse of the verges in recent years and say the problem is at best unsightly and blighting a neighbourhood and at worst a real safety hazard - with lorries blocking lines of sight, causing obstructions and leaving deep puddles and ruts in the ground.

Earlier this year Brownfield Road, Shard End, became the first street in Birmingham where parking on the verge was banned and enforced with £70 fines - something which could be introduced elsewhere.

Read More

Others possible measures include putting wooden posts in the ground to deter vehicles, planting more trees and flowers and event protective mats or grids like those used on playgrounds.

Councillors may also consider putting extra parking bays in where there are larger verges.

Now a group of councillors is being set up to look into the issue to consider the solutions.

Cllr Neil Eustace

Coun Neil Eustace (Lib Dem Stechford and Yardley North) said: “It has exploded over the last couple of years. Residents see the street scene as important and like to look after it. Some even trim the grass themselves and plant bulbs, until someone drives a great van over them.

“I am delighted the council has agreed to research methods of reducing grass verge parking in Birmingham. Residents are angry at a minority of motorists churning up grass verges and consider it anti social behaviour.”

“Delivery trucks and the councils bin lorries cause much damage too. Hopefully answers to this complex problem can be found soon “

Coun Gary Sambrook (Cons, Kingstanding ) said he had been inundated with complaints. “After the Shard End initiative appeared in the Birmingham Mail I had about two dozen phone calls from residents saying ‘if they can do it in Shard End why can’t we do it in Kingstanding’.”

Coun Marje Bridle (Lab, Shard End ), who helped the residents in Brownfield Road, added: “This review is long overdue. It’s a major issue everywhere in the city. But the whole thing is fraught with thorny issues.” She suggested that they lobby Parliament to secure additional powers to tackle the problem.

Some of the verges in Hodge Hill where residents have complained about damage.